What Do You Want?

Luke 18:35-43  Focus: Luke 18:40-41 “So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’”

New Day?

This morning dawned with a crystal blue, cloudless sky and sun so bright I needed sunglasses to look out of the window. The heaviness of my heart did not match the day. Indeed, it is as gloomy as the weather has been here in the deep south as of late: Cold, dreary, damp, and just plain yucky.

Then, I read these words, “what do you want?,” penned by the physician, Luke.  I had read them before, have heard this preached and I have heard the Lord say these very words to me while teaching me about breath prayers. Somehow, this morning is different. They were good medicine.

Blindness

Am I a blind person trying to lead the blind?

I go back through these scriptures and dig as much as I can from them…..I am a blind beggar searching for bread.

The first question is this: Am I pointing people to Jesus, the man from Nazareth? A good man. A kind man. A patient man. A great teacher. OR.  Am I taking them to Jesus, Son of David. MESSIAH. Savior. Healer. Redeemer. Creator. Jesus, the name means everything. It tells us who He is, what He came to do, and He is worthy.

Jesus heard the cries of a blind beggar.   He is loud; he is determined.  This man  will be heard, be seen, and he needs a second chance. This beggar was told Jesus, the man, was near. The beggar called out to Jesus the Messiah.  Jesus heard his plea for an audience and stopped. Then, Jesus asked the question He is asking you and I today: “What do you want Me to do for you?”

Seeing

The blind man asks for what he needs most. Sight. Eyes to see. Jesus speaks sight into this one; physical sight because he already had spiritual sight! He called out to Jesus because blind as he was, he knew He was God’s Son; he understood Jesus was the creator.  This blind man believed Jesus was the answer to His problem. He had faith!

Jesus giving this blind man his physical sight allowed him to do what he really longed to do: FOLLOW HIM, glorify the Father, and be a living testimony of the power in the name of Jesus.

Why is my heart heavy? Today, half a dozen families in need of healing were on my mind when I opened my eyes. People I love. People who like this beggar want to be able to follow Him but currently are unable due to illness, infirmity, and, in some cases, ignorance. We are all spiritually blind in some area of our spiritual lives and we are seeking desperately to have the curse reversed. I wonder though, am I calling on the man or the Messiah? It matters. When I say the name Jesus is there faith in who He really is attached to it or is it used vainly out of habit.

The blind man was healed for two reasons: 1.) to give sight to this man of faith so he could follow Jesus and declare the glory of God; 2.) to be a living example to all who saw the miracle that Jesus is not just a man but Messiah and give praise to God. Some believe without seeing, others must see to believe. (John 20:29) The blind man saw. The seeing crowd was blind.

All in the Name

The only name that mattered in this story was the name Jesus, Son of David. Praying with faith in His name moves heaven and earth. Jesus knew this blind man had faith in His name and he healed a blind man so he could do what he really desired. Sometimes our real need is hidden by some physical obstacle. Jesus gets to the heart of our hearts desire.

What do you want Jesus to do for you today? He will hear you. He will answer. Believe in the power of His name. I am praying for you!

What a Beautiful Name by Hillsong United

Dedicated to Brenda Ray, Doris Attaway: two spiritual giants who modeled a life of prayer and to hear God ask, “What do you want?” They now rest in their Savior’s arms. I am forever grateful.